Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has won its bid to host the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) at ACC Liverpool.

(LJMU) Astrophysics Research Institute, one of the world’s leading authorities in astronomy and astrophysics, led the bid to host the event in 2018 in collaboration with the waterfront venue.

Organised by the European Astronomical Society, which promotes and advances astronomy across Europe, EWASS is the largest annual meeting of astronomers and space scientists anywhere in Europe.

Around 1,200 international delegates are expected to attend the four-day conference and exhibition at ACC Liverpool – home to BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool – between April 3 – 6.

Professor Chris Collins, head of the Astrophysics Research Institute at LJMU, said: “This event will put Liverpool John Moores University, the city and the rest of the UK on the world-stage in showcasing our space technology and astrophysics research capability.

“As a university that thinks locally but acts globally, this event is testament to our legacy of international collaboration. From our wide portfolio of internationally leading research projects, to our unique robotic telescope in La Palma, which is currently tracking the Gaia spacecraft with fellow astrophysicists in Germany, France and Chile, we not only look to the stars but to the rest of the world in pushing the boundaries of astrophysics.”

The Astrophysics Research Institute of LJMU was central to bringing the event to Liverpool, which will be a joint meeting between EWASS and the annual UK National Astronomy Meeting organised by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).

Prof John Zarnecki, president of the Royal Astronomical Society, said: “EWASS is the major astronomy and space science event in the European calendar. UK scientists are very much committed to collaboration with our peers across the continent, so I’m delighted that we will host the meeting in 2018.”

The EWASS event was held in Athens this year and was last held in the UK in 2009, when it was also a joint meeting with the RAS.

The bidding process was supported by Club Liverpool, an ambassador initiative led by Liverpool Convention Bureau in partnership with ACC Liverpool. Club Liverpool utilises mainly academic, medical, business and scientific expertise in the city to attract large international conferences.

Kerrin MacPhie, director of conference and exhibition sales at ACC Liverpool, said: “Through Club Liverpool we have worked closely with our ambassadors to illustrate that we have the scientific expertise, the destination support and a world class venue to ensure a successful conference in 2018.”